- Before Bello, many were afraid to contest; under his administration, women, youths and ordinary people found more room to pursue their political dreams.
By Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi
There was a time in Kogi Central when election periods came with fear, tension and uncertainty. For many families, politics was not just about winning or losing elections; it was about personal safety. Young and old, men and women, sometimes had to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere because of fears of pre-election violence.
Many people who had the ambition, capacity and desire to serve their communities simply stayed away from politics. Some were afraid to declare their intentions, while others could not imagine freely contesting elective positions without worrying about their safety.
But things began to change under the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
His administration ushered in a new political atmosphere in which more people could openly express their ambitions, join political activities and seek elective offices. The political space became more accessible to people who previously felt excluded or intimidated.
One striking example is Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her political emergence and eventual election as Senator representing Kogi Central took place within the broader period of expanding political participation under Yahaya Bello’s administration.
This is an important part of the story that should not be ignored. Natasha has her own political journey, determination and supporters, but the political environment that allowed more people, including women, to pursue elective positions deserves recognition.
Under Bello, women were not merely encouraged to participate in politics; they were also given opportunities to occupy important positions in government.
Kogi State witnessed the emergence of its first female Secretary to the State Government (SSG), its first female Head of Service (HOS), a female local government chairman and 20 female vice-chairmen across the 21 local government areas, alongside women appointed to other strategic positions.
These were significant developments in a society where women had often struggled to gain equal access to political leadership.
The message was simple: a woman could contest, a young person could aspire, and an ordinary citizen could seek an opportunity to serve without politics being treated as the exclusive preserve of a few powerful individuals.
Today, when we talk about political participation in Kogi Central, we must remember the journey. We must acknowledge the efforts and policies that helped create opportunities for people to come forward and pursue their ambitions.
The beauty of democracy is not just in who wins an election, but in creating an environment where everybody has the opportunity to contest, campaign and seek the people’s mandate.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan deserves recognition for her political achievements, but it is equally important to acknowledge the broader political environment under which women like her and many other aspiring leaders found greater opportunities to participate.
Yahaya Bello’s administration may not have handed anybody an electoral victory, but it helped widen the political space in which people could pursue one.
That is a political legacy worth remembering, particularly by the grassroots people of Kogi Central.
– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene.
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